Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Chapter 29- His room
“Wait for me…it won’t take long.” Saying so, Austin closed the door of the bathroom.

They decided to have a walk around the garden together as a part of his recuperation, so he went to take a bath.

Left alone in his room, Valerie remained standing at her spot for a few seconds before she started looking around the place.

‘This is the room…where he sleeps…and spends his alone time…’ Her heart rate began to accelerate while imagining how vulnerable her Lord must remain in this place.

Tracing the edges of the chair where he sat as if to memorize its texture. Inhaling in the same air where he lives….gave her an unusual sense of relief and excitement.

Her eyes lingered on the door behind which he stood. She couldn’t help but think about what could be on the other side—making her face hot as a strong gulp traveled down her throat.

Her eyes then traveled toward his bed; it was not much disheveled and only a few wrinkles could be seen.

She slowly approached the bed while keeping an ear focused on the door.

‘What am I doing…’ Although she knew it was bad for a maiden to be present inside a boy’s room, even though he is her fiancé. However, she couldn’t stop herself from satiating her curiosity.

She sat down on the bed, and touched the spot where he had been lying down a few moments ago,

‘Warm…’ Her eyes turned dazed, and before she knew it, she slowly fell onto the bed and brought the pillow on which he rested, in her arms.

His scent surrounded her, his warmth making her feel calm yet excited at the same time. She has never felt something like this.

Valerie clutched the pillow tighter, her breath shallow and uneven as she buried her face into it. The faint scent of him—comforting and undeniably his—wrapped around her like an embrace, making her heart race.

Her fingers brushed over the soft fabric, imagining for a fleeting moment that it was his skin beneath her touch.

She closed her eyes, her mind filled with thoughts of Austin. His smile, his voice, the way he looked at her with those gentle eyes. She sighed softly, pressing her cheek into the pillow as if it could bring her closer to him.

Her hand wandered to the blanket, fingertips grazing over it as she thought about how he must have wrapped it around himself, seeking warmth. The thought sent a shiver through her, a mixture of nervousness and longing.

‘What would he think if he saw me like this?’ The question echoed in her mind, but she couldn’t pull herself out of the bed.

Her lips parted slightly as she whispered his name into the quiet room, her voice trembling with emotions she could no longer contain.

*Click*

Her eyes widened, the hair strands on her back stood erect in alert, and like a breeze, she flew out of his bed to stand at the exact spot where he left her.

Austin, freshly out of the bath, froze at his place as he looked at his fiancée, whose face was flushed and eyes watery slightly.

“Was I hallucinating, or were you really on my bed?”

Valerie did her best to retain her composure, however, her reddening cheeks exposed the truth, while she lied through her teeth,

“It must be the side effect of the medicine.”

Austin raised his brows, barely suppressing himself from chuckling as he asked, “Why don’t you sit down? Not like maidens are not allowed to at least sit on their fiancée chair, right?”

Valerie knew her Lord was teasing her now. However, she was so embarrassed by her actions just now that she couldn’t even mutter a response.

Wordlessly, Valerie sat down.

Austin asked her, “Milk tea works for you?”

Valerie rose from her seat before suggesting, “Let me prepare the tea.”

Austin smiled at the lady and shook his head, “It’s your first official visit to my humble abode. Let me show some hospitality, my pretty lady.”

Valerie shyly lowered her eyes before she sat back down.

Austin took the tea leaves from the shelf before putting them inside the boiling pot along with water. He used to like a mug of beer early in the morning, but after his rebirth, his taste changed. After all, no girl likes a man whose mouth stinks of alcohol.

While Austin was preparing the tea, he asked the other one, “Do you know if there is any change in the tournament preliminaries?”

Valerie was taken aback by the sudden shift of conversation, she soon answered nevertheless, “Until now, the students council has received no information regarding the changes. However, considering the new law enforcing an official member of each school in the Valor Council, there can be a few changes.”

The Continental Council of Valor was the group of people who organized the tournament between the seven academies every year.

However, last year, they were blamed for interfering too much. The newspapers further elevated the situation by criticizing the council for showing partial treatment.

“You will possibly participate in the elite division?” Austin asked, a fond smile on his face.

There are two divisions in the tournament; for the first and second year, the rookie division is arranged where they need to perform tasks a lot easier and safer compared to the Elite division, in which the third year participates.

The difficulty of the tasks assigned to the Elite division was close to the military level.

Only a few individuals from the first or second year get selected for the Elite Division, and considering Valerie’s strength, she undoubtedly would be chosen as one of the Elites.

“Ah…” Suddenly, Austin found a warm hand overlapping his hand, as Valerie stood behind him and softly whispered,

“In the tag team battle…I want my Lord to be my partner.”

Austin’s breath was caught in his throat as he gazed at her charming eyes, which held a sense of stubbornness.

Austin couldn’t stop himself from smiling before assuring her, “I will be there with you.”